THOMAS GATES.
¶ The Reader must vnderstand, that this Discourse was dedicated, and intended to haue bene Imprinted somewhat before the comming of the Spanish Fleete vpon our coast of England: but by casualtie the same was forgotten and slacked for a time of some better leasure.
The Order and maner for the true placing of the Mappes in this Booke.
{ S'. Iago in fol. 10. { S'. Domingo in fol. 19. Place the Mappe of { Cartagena in fol. 23. { S'. Augustine in fol. 31.
A SVMMARIE AND TRVE DISCOVRSE OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKES WEST INDIAN VOYAGE, WHEREIN WERE TAKEN THE TOVVNES OF SAINT IAGO, Sancto Domingo, Cartagena, and Saint Augustine,
This vvorthie Knight for the seruice of his Prince and Countrie, hauing prepared his vvhole fleete, and gotten them downe to Plimmouth in Deuonshire, to the number of fiue and twentie saile of ships and pinnaces, and hauing assembled of Souldiours and Marriners to the number of two thousand and three hundred in the vvhole, embarqued them and himselfe at Plimmouth aforesaid, the twelfth day of September 1585. being accompanied vvith these men of name and charge, vvhich hereafter followe.
Maister Christopher Carleill Lieftenant Generall, a man of long experience in the vvarre as vvell by sea as land, and had formerly carried high offices in both kindes in many fightes, vvhich he discharged alvvaies verie happilie, and with great good reputation. Anthonie Povvell Sergeant Maior. Captaine Mathevve Morgan, and Captaine Iohn Sampson, Corporals of the field.
These Officers had commaundement ouer the rest of the land Captaines, vvhose names hereafter follovve.
Captaine Anthony Plat. Captaine Edvvard Winter. Captaine Iohn Goring. Captaine Robert Pevv. Captaine George Barton. Captaine Iohn Merchant. Captaine William Cecill. Captaine Walter Bigs. Captaine Iohn Hannam. Captaine Richard Stanton. Captaine Martine Frobusher Viceadmirall, a man of great experience in sea faring actions, & had caried chiefe charge of many shippes himselfe, in sundry voyages before, being novv shipped in the Primrose. Captaine Francis Knollis, Rieradmirall in the Gallion Leicester. Maister Thomas Venner Captaine in the Elizabeth Bonaduenture vnder the Generall. Maister Edvvard Winter Captaine in the Aide. Maister Christopher Carleill the Lieftenant generall, Captaine in the Tygar. Henry White Captaine of the sea Dragon. Thomas Drake Captaine of the Thomas. Thomas Seelie Captaine of the Minion. Baily Captaine of the Barke Talbot. Robert Crosse Captaine of the Barke Bond. George Fortescute Captaine of the Barke Bonner. Edward Carelesse Captaine of the Hope. James Erizo Captaine of the vvhite Lion. Thomas Moone Captaine of the Francis. Iohn Riuers Captaine of the Vantage, Iohn Vaughan Captaine of the Drake. Iohn Varney Captaine of the George, Iohn Martin Captaine of the Beniamin. Edward Gilman Captaine of the Skout. Richard Haukins Captaine of the Galliot called the Ducke. Bitfield Captaine of the Svvallowe.
After our going hence, which vvas the fourteenth of September, in the yeare of our Lord, one thowsand fiue hundred eightie and fiue: & taking our course towardes Spaine, vve had the winde for a fewe daies somevvhat skant, and sometimes calme. And being arriued neere that part of the coast of Spaine, vvich is called the Moores, vvee happened to espie diuerse Sailes, vvich kept their course close by the shore, the vveather being faire and calme. The Generall caused the Vizeadmirall to goe vvith the Pinnaces vvell manned to see vvhat they vvere, vvho vpon sight of the said Pinnaces approching neere vnto them, abandoned for the most part all their shippes (being Frenchmen) laden all vvith salt, and bound homewardes into France, amongst vvhich shippes (being all of small burthen) there was one so vvell liked, vvhich also had no man in her, as being brought vnto the Generall, he thought good to make stay of her for the seruice, meaning to pay for her, as also accordingly performed at our returne: vvhich Barke vvas called the Drake. The rest of these shippes (being eight or nine) vvere dismissed vvithout any thing at all taken from them. Who beeing aftervvardes put somevvhat further off from the shore, by the contrarietie of the vvinde, vve happened to meete vvith some other French shippes, full laden vvith Newland fish, beeing vpon their returne homewarde from the saide New found land: vvhom the Generall after some speech had vvith them, (and seeing plainely that they vvere Frenchmen) dismissed vvithout once suffering any man to goe aboord of them.
The day follovving standing in vvith the shore againe, vve discried an other tall ship of twelue score tunnes or theraboutes, vpon vvhom Maister Carleill the Lieuetenant generall being in the Tygar, vndertooke the chase, vvhome also anon after the Admirall follovved, and the Tygar hauing caused the saide straunge shippe to strike her sayles, kept her there without suffering anye bodie to goe aboorde vntill the Admirall vvas come vp: vvho foorthwith fending for the Maister, and diuerse others of their principall men, and causing them to be seuerally examined, found the Shippe and goodes to be belonging to the inhabitantes of Saint SEBASTIAN in Spaine, but the Marriners to bee for the most parte belonging to Saint IOHN de LVCE, and the Passage. In this ship was greate store of dry Nevvland fish, commonly called vvith vs Poore Iohn, vvhereof aftervvards (being thus found a lavvfull prize) there vvas distribution made into all the shippes of the Fleete, the same being so new and good, as it did verie greatly bestead vs in the whole course of our voyage. A day or two after the taking of this ship, vve put in within the Isles of BAYON, for lacke of fauourable vvind, where we had no sooner anckered some part of the Fleete, but the Generall commaunded all the Pinnaces with the ship boates to be manned, and euerye man to be furnished with such armes as vvas needefull for that present seruice; vvhich being done, the Generall put himselfe into his Galley, vvhich was also well furnished, and rowing towardes the Citie of BAYON; with intent, and the fauour of the Almightie to supprise it. Before we had aduaunced one halfe league of our way, there came a messenger beeing an English Marchant from the Gouernour, to see what straunge Fleete we were, who came to our Generall, and conferred a while with him, and after a small time spent, our Generall called for Captaine Sampson, and willed him to goe to the Gouernour of the Citie, to resolue him of two pointes. The first, to knowe if there were any warres beetweene Spaine and England. The second, vvhy our Merchantes with their goodes were imbarred or arrested. Thus departed Captaine Sampson with the saide Messenger to the citie, vvhere he found the Gouernour and people much amazed of such a suddaine accident.
The Generall with the aduice and counsell of Maister Carliell his Lieuetenant generall, who was in the Galley with him, thought not good to make any stand, till such time as they were within the shot of the Citie, wher they might be ready vpon the returne of Captaine Sampson, to make a suddaine attempt if cause did require before it were darke.
Captaine Sampson returned with his message in this sort. First, touching peace or warres the Gouernour said he knevve of no warres, and that it lay not in him to make any, he being so meane a subiect as hee vvas. And as for the stay of the Marchantes with their goodes, it vvas the Kinges pleasure, but not with intent to endommage any man. And that the Kinges conter commaundement vvas (vvhich had bene receiued in that place some seauennight before) that English Marchants vvith their goods should be discharged: for the more verifying vvhereof, he sent such Marchants as vvere in the tovvne of our Nation, who traffiqued those parts; vvhich being at large, declared to our generall by them, counsell vvas taken vvhat myght best be done. And for that the night approched, it vvas thought needefull to land our force, vvhich vvas done in the shutting vp of the day, and hauing quartered our selues to our most aduantage, vvyth sufficient gard vpon euery straight, vve thought to rest our selues for that night there. The Gouernour sent vs some refreshing, as bread, vvine, oyle, apples, grapes, marmalad and such lyke. About midnight the vveather beginnes to ouercast, insomuch that it vvas thought meeter to repaire aboord, then to make any longer abode on land, and before vve could recouer the Fleete, a great tempest arose, vvhich caused many of our ships to driue from their anker hold, and some vvere forced to sea in great peril, as the barke Talbot, the barke Hawkins, and the Speedewell, vvhich Speedewel onely vvas driuen into England, the others recouered vs againe, the extremitie of the storme lasted three dayes, vvhich no sooner beganne to asswage, but Maister Carleill our Lieutenant generall, vvas sent vvith his ovvne ship and three others: as also vvith the galley and vvith dyuers Pinnaces, to see vvhat he might do aboue VIGO, vvhere he tooke many boates and some Caruels, diuersly laden vvith thinges of small value, but chiefly vvith houshold stuffe, running into the high countrey, and amongst the rest, he found one boate laden vvith the principal Church stuffe of the high Church of VIGO, vvhere also vvas their great Crosse of siluer, of very fayre embossed vvorke, and double gilt all ouer, hauing cost them a great masse of money. They complayned to haue lost in all kind of goods aboue thirtie thowsand Duckets in this place.
The next day the General vvith his vvhole Fleete vvent vp from the Isles of BAYON, to a very good harbour aboue VIGO, vvhere Maister Carleill stayd his comming, asvvell for the more quiet riding of his ships, as also for the good commoditie of fresh vvatering, vvhich the place there did afoord full vvell. In the meane time the Gouernour of GALLISIA had reared such forces as he might, his numbers by estimate vvere some two thowsand foot, and three hundred horse, and marched from BAYON to this part of the countrey, vvhich lay in sight of our Fleete, vvhere making stand, he sent to parle vvith our Generall, vvhich vvas graunted by our Generall, so it might be in boates vpon the vvater: and for safetie of their persons, there vvere pledges deliuered on both sides, vvhich done, the Gouernour of GALLISIA put him selfe vvith two others into our Vice-Admirals Skiffe, the same hauing bene sent to the shore for him. And in like sort our Generall in his owne Skiffe, vvhere by them it vvas agreed, vve should furnish our selues vvith fresh vvater, to be taken by our owne people quietly on the land, and haue all other such necessaries, paying for the same, as the place vvould affoord.
VVhen all our businesse vvas ended, vve departed, and tooke our vvay by the Islands of CANARIA, vvhich are esteemed some three hundred leagues from this part of Spaine, and falling purposely vvith PALMA, vvith intention to haue taken our pleasure of that place, for the full digesting of many thinges into order, and the better furnishing our store vvith such seuerall good thinges as that affoordeth very abundantly, vve vvere forced by the vile sea gate, vvhich at that present fell out, and by the naughtinesse of the landing place, being but one, and that vnder the fauor of many Platformes, vvell furnished vvith great ordinance, to depart vvith the receipt of many their Canon shot, some into our ships, and some besides, some of them being in very deede full Canon high. But the onely or chiefe mischiefe, vvas the daungerous sea surge, vvhich at shore all alongest, plainly threatned the ouerthrovv of as many Pinnaces and boates, as for that time should haue attempted any landing at all.
